Preview: Indians at Royals

September 18, 2013|Reuters

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Preview: Indians at Royals

The Cleveland Indians are battling through every game as they attempt to chase down the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers in the American League wild-card race. The Kansas City Royals, who host the Indians on Wednesday, are one of several teams nipping at Cleveland's heels in search of a postseason berth. The Royals and the Indians split the first two of the four-game set, leaving Cleveland a half-game back of a wild-card spot.

Kansas City, which hosts Texas in a three-game series over the weekend, is running out of time to make up more ground and dropped 3 1/2 games behind the Rangers and Tampa Bay with Tuesday's 5-3 setback. The Royals, who took the series opener 7-1, owned a three-run lead Tuesday before the bullpen let the team down. The Indians are getting full use out of the expanded September rosters and used seven pitchers, one pinch hitter and three pinch runners in Tuesday's contest.

Cleveland is limiting Salazar to around 80 pitches per start as it attempts to keep the rookie healthy and strong down the stretch. The 23-year-old is aiming for a sixth straight start allowing two or fewer earned runs, but is hoping to get past the fourth inning for the first time since Sept. 1. Salazar is making his first start against the division rivals and is 0-2 with a 2.35 ERA on the road.

Chen had a string of three straight strong outings come to an end Friday, when he was reached for six runs (five earned) on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Detroit. The veteran swingman helped solidify the Kansas City rotation upon his promotion from the bullpen in late July and is 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA as a starter. Chen hasn't allowed an earned run in 12 1/3 total innings against Cleveland this season, including a six-inning start July 12 in which he surrendered only one hit.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Indians will begin selling postseason tickets on Monday for a potential wild-card game and Division Series.

2. Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer has hit safely in 18 of his last 20 games.